This trip will be operated in conjunction with our sister company and Celtic Specialists - Brendan Vacations.

Arrive to Dublin a day or two prior to the start of your Guided Holiday and begin exploring this exciting city on your own. Ask your Trafalgar Specialist for accommodation and private transfer prices.

Trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discount. Discounts are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice.

Trip prices are correct at the time of the products going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. All trip information is correct at time of trips going live, however are subject to change - please confirm all details at time of booking.

Twin-share option not available for trips to South America, Costa Rica, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii or for any holiday & cruise combination, or in Asia and Eastern Mediterranean except Highlights of Turkey (without cruise) & Best of Turkey. It's also not available on Small Group trips. Guided Vacations included in this restriction are Newfoundland and Labrador (DNLA) as well as Panama, the Canal & Beyond (LPAN).

For trips that are part of our Guaranteed Room Share, please note that there is a no smoking policy in all shared rooms. Solo travel is not accepted on guided Family Experiences holidays unless travelling as part of a family group.

This trip will be operated in conjunction with our sister company and Celtic Specialists - Brendan Vacations.

Arrive to Dublin a day or two prior to the start of your Guided Holiday and begin exploring this exciting city on your own. Ask your Trafalgar Specialist for accommodation and private transfer prices.

Trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discount. Discounts are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice.

Trip prices are correct at the time of the products going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. All trip information is correct at time of trips going live, however are subject to change - please confirm all details at time of booking.

Twin-share option not available for trips to South America, Costa Rica, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii or for any holiday & cruise combination, or in Asia and Eastern Mediterranean except Highlights of Turkey (without cruise) & Best of Turkey. It's also not available on Small Group trips. Guided Vacations included in this restriction are Newfoundland and Labrador (DNLA) as well as Panama, the Canal & Beyond (LPAN).

For trips that are part of our Guaranteed Room Share, please note that there is a no smoking policy in all shared rooms. Solo travel is not accepted on guided Family Experiences holidays unless travelling as part of a family group.

About this trip

A complete circle of Ireland including fairytale castle and manor house stays. Visit the ancient city of Dublin, the wild Cliffs of Moher and the island's 'emerald' countryside. See the wilderness of Connemara and stay in Galway's Ballynahinch Castle, built in the 1580s by Donal O'Flaherty, the first husband of Ireland's fearsome pirate queen, Grace O'Malley.

Set your watch to the lively pace of Ireland's capital city - the springboard for our in-depth Hidden Journey through the lush landscapes and enduring charm of Ireland. Our exploration of Dublin with a Local Specialist will see us view St. Patrick's Cathedral and the colourful Georgian Squares. Spend some time at leisure meandering through Dublin's pretty cobblestone streets before joining your travel companions and Travel Director for a Welcome Reception celebrating traditional Irish flavours.

We traverse picturesque landscapes to Kildare, delving into Ireland's thoroughbred industry at the Irish National Stud during a Cultural Insight where we'll have a rare opportunity to see the foaling unit, museum and of course the magnificent stallions that continue to make racing history. Our journey south brings us to the haunt of St. Patrick and the spectacular Rock of Cashel where we will view its majestic ecclesiastical ruins with a Local Specialist. We continue to Killarney, with its beautiful lakeside setting and enjoy an evening at leisure to soak up the lively atmosphere of one of Ireland's friendliest towns.

Hotel

The Malton Authentic Accommodation

Meals

Full Breakfast

Hotel

The Malton Authentic Accommodation

Meals

Full Breakfast

Optional Experiences

Irish Ceilidh Evening

The Irish Ceilidh epitomises how music and dance were enjoyed in rural Ireland, especially on festive occasions. The craic - welcoming, jolly, fun and informal - is accompanied with plenty of food and drink. There's no more enjoyable way to understand Irish culture.

Adult Price: €65.00

Day 2

Day 3

Ring of Kerry ExcursionDay 3 - Ring of Kerry Excursion

Enjoy a slow start to your morning by joining a Local Specialist for a leisurely guided walk at Torc Waterfall, meandering over wooded paths and lakeshore trails. We embark on an epic drive, exploring the enduring beauty of the Ring of Kerry whose enchanting coastal landscapes have inspired writers and poets for centuries. Please Note: This leisurely paced walk meanders over wooden paths and lakeshore trails. Walkers should wear good walking shoes for a stroll through picturesque surrounds.

Meals

Full Breakfast

Meals

Full Breakfast

Optional Experiences

Experience a Jaunting Cart Ride

Enjoy a traditional pony and trap ride through the beautiful Bourn-Vincent National Park. During your journey, your Local Specialist will share fascinating anecdotes about the area and Ireland.

Adult Price: €21.00

Celtic Steps

Enjoy a spectacular evening of Irish music, song and dance performed by champion dancers and musicians and showcasing the music of Kerry and beyond.

The beautiful views continue as we visit the Cliffs of Moher that rise imposingly up from the Atlantic, 700 feet above the waters below. Continue to County Galway and visit the Connemara Marble artisan workshop for a fascinating Cultural Insight where you will learn first-hand about the famous green jade-like marble for which the area is so famous. Your home for the next two nights is Ballynahinch, one of the finest luxury castles in the world. Admire the beautiful Twelve Bens Mountain range in the background as you relax in sumptuous surrounds.

Hotel

Ballynahinch Castle Authentic Accommodation

Meals

Full Breakfast

Dinner

Hotel

Ballynahinch Castle Authentic Accommodation

Meals

Full Breakfast

Dinner

Day 4

Day 5

Connemara ExcursionDay 5 - Connemara Excursion

Drive through the "savage beauty" of Connemara, as described by Oscar Wilde who was inspired by the region's craggy mountains, shimmering lakes and endless shades of green. We stop in the picturesque town of Clifden before visiting Kylemore Abbey, a magnificent castellated structure built as a family home and now inhabited by a group of Benedictine nuns. Venture into the secret nooks and crannies of its extensive walled Victorian garden before returning to your castle accommodation for a delicious dinner.

Meals

Full Breakfast

Dinner

Meals

Full Breakfast

Dinner

Day 5

Day 6

Connemara – Sligo – RoscommonDay 6 - Connemara – Sligo – Roscommon

Our Hidden Journey continues north to Sligo. Here, amid the hills and loughs that inspired the lyrical lines penned by William Butler Yeats, we join Damien and Paula Brennan for a hearty and heart-warming Be My Guest lunch, some Irish craic and the beautiful poetry of W.B. Yeats against the enchanting backdrop of Lough Gill. We journey to Roscommon, where our hotel this evening is the ancestral home of the Tenison family and legendary Colonel King Tenison. Wander through the grand halls and admire the luxurious furnishings of Kilronan Castle Hotel - an up-close encounter with royal heritage. A leisurely afternoon could see you take a luxurious relaxing cruise on the River Shannon.

Hotel

Kilronan Castle Authentic Accommodation

Meals

Full Breakfast

Be My Guest Dining

Hotel

Kilronan Castle Authentic Accommodation

Meals

Full Breakfast

Be My Guest Dining

Optional Experiences

Luxurious River Shannon Cruise

The longest river in the British Isles, the River Shannon is immortalised in songs and legends. Come with us for a cruise on this majestic river, through the beautiful rolling countryside of counties Leitrim and Roscommon. You’ll also enjoy refreshments on the luxurious Moon River Pleasure Cruiser.

Our first stop is a visit to Strokestown Park House, a magnificent 18th century mansion with original furnishings and fabric. We delve into Ireland's tragic potato famine history, gaining a Cultural Insight into the plight of starving Irish tenants, many of whom died or emigrated to the New World in the 1840s. This evening we return to Dublin for a Farewell Dinner celebrating an intimate encounter with the natural beauty and fascinating heritage of Ireland.

Hotel

Roganstown

Meals

Full Breakfast

Farewell Dinner

Hotel

Roganstown

Meals

Full Breakfast

Farewell Dinner

Day 7

Day 8

Depart DublinDay 8 - Depart Dublin

We say a fond farewell to our newfound friends and Dublin today. You will be transferred to the airport, where your Hidden Journey through the Emerald Isle comes to an end. Transfers are available. Conditions apply.

Meals

Full Breakfast

Meals

Full Breakfast

Day 8

Available Departures

Please see http://www.trafalgar.com:80/aus/tours/castles-and-manors for the latest discounts & departure information.

The Trafalgar Difference

Be My Guest There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven't yet met… Enjoy lunch and a few hours of pure poetry spent with Irish superhosts, Paula and Damien, against the beautiful backdrop of Yeats country

Cultural Insights Admire Ireland's finest thoroughbreds at the Irish National Stud Farm. Visit a Connemara Marble factory to see how this vivid green-coloured stone has been crafted into jewellery and figurines for generations, and visit the Irish National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park House, a stately 18th century mansion with walled gardens and woodlands

The Trafalgar Experience

Simply Authentic

Enjoy

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Meet

Meet warm-hearted locals and like-minded travellers. Along your journey of discovery, stop to share stories and flavours with local farmers, chefs and winemakers. Pause to admire the handicrafts and rich traditions of amazing artisans. Explore the essence of Europe through captivating accounts shared by expert historians and savvy local guides.

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